Today is our last day in paradise. Even though we came here from different places and from different generations, we are bonded by our adventure in the Galápagos, which brings magic to our souls and mind. Traveling from the youngest island (Fernandina) to one of the oldest (San Cristobal), this has been a journey of discovery through time.
At San Cristobal Island, we land on a green olivine beach. The volcanic scenery we observe during our intense hike is spectacular. The peaks of tuff high in the sky make this site very different from what we’ve seen so far. Punta Pitt also has impressive scenery from up above: Here, we can see the position of the sun and tell the direction of the sea breeze. All our senses become more acute as we listen to our surroundings on our search for red-footed boobies.
Soon after, it’s beach time and a Zodiac driving lesson for our younger explorers, who attack this challenge with tenacity and energy. Later, we reposition to Kicker Rock, an impressive tuff formation standing massively out of the shoreline. We circumnavigate as the sun sets, remembering this place where we snorkeled with Galápagos sharks, rays, sea lions, fish and friends.
In the evening, we gather at the bow of the National Geographic Endeavour to celebrate life. We made it to the Galápagos, which is not an easy feat. Out of the 7 billion people in the world, only 163,000 make it to the Galápagos each year, compared with the 20 million who travel to Egypt, 12 million to Hawaii, 3 million to Yellowstone, and 1 million to Machu Picchu. Few children make up that small percentage of visitors to the Galápagos and we are honored to be part of the unforgettable experience of our youngest guests. We hope that one day they’ll have the will and power to make a positive change in this wonderful world of ours.
Our expedition is now over and life goes on, but we can be sure that this place has changed many lives, and its magic will exist in our hearts and minds forever.
